Check out what's

happening at First Church this week!

Click on the button to read this month's North Star

The Office will be closed on Monday,

October 13th, to celebrate Columbus Day!

Reminder: We will no longer be live-streaming our worship services on Facebook. Go to YouTube.com/ConcordsFirstChurch to watch the services live.

Jazz Sanctuary

Sunday, October 19th,

at 2:30 PM

 “Color - The Clothing of Beauty,”


Celebrate the vibrant diversity of color and community through jazz and reflection at Jazz Sanctuary. This gathering concludes First Church’s worship series inspired by John O’Donohue’s The Invisible Embrace of Beauty.


The program features “Over the Rainbow,” “Rainbow Connection,” and “Black Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair,” along with a special musical tribute to the legendary Nina Simone. Jazz Sanctuary vocalist Rev. Renée Rouse will bring Simone’s timeless message of dignity, justice, and self-expression to life through song and story.


Free and open to all—come for the music, stay for the spirit!


Les Jumeaux de Longo, 1982

Lois Malou Jones

Acrylic on canvas,

The Studio Museum in Harlem


Jones was a Boston native who was a much awarded student at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, and then completed her degree at Howard University. Her work in her long career focused on both conventional Western European styles and subject matter and influences of African subject matter and styles.

Attendance Last Week

Sunday, October 12


In Person: 8

Zoom: 3

YouTube: 11 views as of 10/15

Weather: 52° and cloudy

Next Circle Gathering

Our next gathering will be on Sunday, October 26th before worship from 9:30-10:15am.

In preparation for our next Circle Gathering, the Council and Pastor Emilia invite you to watch/listen to the following video as it helps to describe what Pastor Emilia is learning about herself and her physical limitations:


"I Need to Stop Violating Myself; Accepting Limitations as an Autistic Adult" by Ashra (23min)

_____________________________

If you missed one of the circle gatherings, you can watch it, below.

Prayers for the Nation

Join Rev. Reneé Rouse as she guides participants through group prayers for our nation and the world. These sessions take place on Zoom every Wednesday from 1:00-2:00 PM.


Join on Zoom


Dial in by phone:

• +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

• +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

• +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)


Meeting ID: 811 7129 7350

Passcode: 475344

2025 Annual Meeting

If you missed our annual meeting on June 1, you can watch it here.

Racial Justice Steering Team


This coming program year (Sept-May), the Racial Justice steering team is reading Black Portsmouth: Three Centuries of African-American Heritage by Mark Sammons and Valerie Cummingham, a comprehensive history of the Black community in Portsmouth from 1648 until the early 21st century. We’ll be reading and discussing this book, in addition to taking action to learn more about those of African descent in New Hampshire, and we invite you to join us! You can purchase the book at Gibson’s Bookstore (look in the “Local Authors” section), order through blackheritagetrailnh.org, or through Amazon.com.


The next meeting will take place on October 15th on Zoom

from 2:30-4:00 PM.


Dial by your location

• +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington

• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

• +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

• +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)


Meeting ID: 853 7898 6356

Passcode: 596356

OUTREACH

Ministry of Outreach


Kid Kits and Clean Up Buckets

School Kits are now called Kid Kits and the list is slightly different. Copies of the new list are posted on the bulletin board and can be found online at 

https://cwskits.org



CWS Buckets and Kits are small packages of supplies assembled by volunteers and shipped to families and communities in need around the world.


Thank you for all the donations we have received. What we need now are bags.  Directions for making the bags are on the bulletin board and also can be found at the web site. Please continue to take sticky notes from the bulletin board and buy materials needed for the cleanup buckets.

 

Zimbabwe

Thank you for your donations for the Daisy Dube orphanage. A final total will be placed in the next North Star.

 

Strengthen the Church

Thank you for your donations to Strengthen the Church. A final total will be placed in the next North Star.

 

Neighbors in Need

This UCC offering is collected on World Communion Sunday. A "five for five" offering which 1/3 goes to Council of Indian Ministries and 2/3 goes to ministries of justice and compassion. Please give generously.

 

Crop Walk

Crop Walk is Oct. 11 at 10:00am. The 2.5-mile walk starts at the Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Church on Clinton Street. Please consider walking or supporting a walker. Crop Walk has been going for 55 years. The funds raised go towards ending hunger and poverty in the US and around the world.

 

Thank you 

A thank you note from Victoria Rosenberg (Sara Nichols' daughter) is posted on the bulletin board. Recently the council voted to send a check of $50 to help set up a classroom. The students of St. Matthew's Parish School are relocated to a warehouse since the fire in Pacific Palisades. The money received helped brighten up the classroom and hopefully make it more conducive to learning. Ask Sara Nichols to show you a before and after video of the classroom.

 

Did you miss worship last week?

Worship Assistant Schedule

Would you like to be a worship assistant? Please email Pastor Emilia.


Jazz Sanctuary - October 19th (No Reader)


Annie Papinsick (Sunday, October 26th)


Jim Wildman (Sunday, November 2nd)


Eleanor Kimball (Sunday, November 9th)


Jazz Sanctuary - November 16th (No Reader)


Sheila Swenson (Sunday, November 23rd)


Sara Nichols (Sunday, November 30th)


Rev. Renee' Rouse (Sunday, December 7th)


Phil Kimball (Sunday, December 14th)



October Birthdays




 Rev. Emilia Halstead – 10/2

 

Linda Baines – 10/4

 

Rev. Eleanor Kimball – 10/13

 

Hannah Irving – 10/26

 

 

                            


(If you would like your birthday listed, please email

Kathy at secretary@concordsfirstchurch.org)


PRAYER CONCERNS & PASTORAL CARE



If you would like your name included in the weekly prayer list, please contact our church administrator, Kathy secretary@concordsfirstchurch.org


We invite you to keep these people in your prayers this week:

Carol Hovey - Healing

Matt Wildman - Healing

Jim J - Healing

Family & Friends of Howard "BJ" Steinberg - Peace

Family of Carol Emery - Peace

Kellie Heath - Healing

Franklin Richardson Rouse - Comfort and Prayers

No one from First Congregational Church will ever contact you by email, text, or any other type of message to ask you to purchase gift cards on our behalf. If you receive a message asking for a "favor," or that you do something "discreetly," please give us a call right away.


Copies of our church directory are available in the church office. Please stop by in person during office hours if you need one.

Staff Information

Jock's Bebe


Kathy's Reagan

Emilia's Scarlett

 IN PERSON OFFICE HOURS:

First Church Office Hours: Mondays & Thursdays 7:15 am-12:15 pm at 79 Clinton St

Tuesday 7:00 am - 12:00 pm online/phone

Wednesdays 11:30 am-2:30pm online/phone


Please call before coming in to speak to a staff member in person - He/She/They may be out running an errand!


CONTACT INFORMATION:

Church Office Number - (603) 225-5491

Emilia Halstead - pastor@concordsfirstchurch.org

Kathy Akerman - secretary@concordsfirstchurch.org

Jock Irvine - technology@concordsfirstchurch.org

- financialsecretary@concordsfirstchurch.org




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